Elizabeth Dale

Friday, 21 October 2016

I am thrilled to reveal that my picture book Off to Market!, illustrated by Erika Pal and published by Frances Lincoln was a runner up in the Dundee Picture Book Awards 2015. It was a lovely occasion and the children who hosted the event and, indeed, chose the winners were quite delightful.

I am delighted to announce that my picture book, When Betsy Cane to Babysit, illustrated by Zoe Waring and published by Tamarind Press, was read on CBeebies on the Bedtime Hour earlier this year.

And I have recently had several picture books and Early Readers published, the latest onet being Nothing Can Frighten a Bear published by Nosy Crow on 1st September.

This book is beautifully illustrated by Paula Metcalf. This humorous rhyming text conveys a gentle, reassuring message that’s perfect for young children.

Snuggled up in bed one moonlight night, Baby Bear is sure he hears a monster outside. Daddy Bear insists there’s nothing scary in the forest and, anyway, nothing can frighten a bear. But as the family of bears set out to make sure, and all vanish one by one, it looks like Daddy Bear might not be as brave as he seems…

Sunday, 21 July 2013

CHALKFACE CHALLENGE!

Many thanks to the wonderful, enthusiastic and conscientious Year 5 children at St. Edward's Catholic Primary School, Swadlincote, who judged the SCBWI Chalkface Challenge competition and chose the opening extract from Help! I Think I'm An Alien! as a runner-up!

Help! I Think I'm An Alien!

Chapter One

Whoosh!

It comes to me in a blinding flash on my 12th birthday.

Flash!

Ping!

Wow!

Like being struck by a sonic screw-driver and a jet of ice-cold water all at the same time.

Suddenly the tiny portion of my brain that works zooms up twenty-zillion levels. And I know. Just like that. Something that’s so blindingly obvious I can’t believe I haven’t seen it in the whole of my twelve years, two hours, ten minutes and thirty-two seconds on this planet.

I’m different.

I’ve always known I’m different, of course. You can’t live with a family who thinks that football is less important than world peace without realising they’re not like you. But when Dad says he doesn’t see the point of ice-cream cake and Mum and my brothers agree, suddenly it hits me. Not the cake. Well it does,but that comes later. My family are all incredibly, unbelievably different to me.

Me My Family

Loves ice-cream cake Fave cake is stodgy fruit cake!!

Loves playing any sport especially football Thinks a ball is what you throw

“Here, Charlie, let’s take a photo of everyone happy together on your birthday – before you discover we forgot to buy you a birthday cake!” Dad cries and everyone giggles. That’s another thing – my family’s sense of humour. It’s the pits. Totes.

“Smile!” Dad cries. Suddenly there’s a flash.

“Nice one!” he grins and hands me the camera. And then it’s there before my eyes. Digital confirmation. Irrefutable proof. Me... and them.

I’ve never cared what I look like, never gazed adoringly at my reflection in mirrors like girls (and let’s face it – some boys!) do. Just as well, with my face. Of course I’m thinner than the rest of my family, but I always thought that’s because they devour each meal like they’re never gonna eat again. But their hair and eyes and smiles all match. They have great big furry caterpillars for eyebrows. I’m the odd one out.

I have to tell Will. Right now. I dash up to the bathroom, pulling out my new mega-cool mobile. Dad gave it to me earlier, as a surprise birthday present, despite Mum’s opposition to mobiles and 12-year old boys. It’s the mobiles she objects to, not the boys. I think... Then again, maybe not...

Hurriedly, I shut the door. I’m not sure Mum knows about the phone. Dad said it was just for emergencies. I didn’t realise I’d need it the very first day. In my own home.

I sit on the loo. My fingers are shaking so much, I can hardly punch in Will’s number. As a founder member of KIDS – Kray-Z’s Incredible Detective Services, I’ve longed for a tricky mystery to solve. And all the time here it was, waiting for me, right under my nose. Well, in my nose! No, not the bogeys! The nose itself. It’s big. Embrassingly so. Especially compared to the lovely small ones my parents and brothers have.

Monday, 27 February 2012

Once upon a time Elizabeth Dale dreamed of being a writer, but maybe because the wicked fairy wasn’t invited to her christening, she was led astray into the strange, confusing world of studying for a physics degree and managing the health service. Finally she came to her senses and began her writing careerlabouring on a portable typewriter with keys that jammed, battling with re-writes, tippex and carbon paper to produce her big novelthat no-one wanted to publish. Vowing never again to spend so much effort writing something nobody wanted to publish, she bought a computer and quickly progressed to writing teenage and adult magazine fiction, which both shared the same major attractions – they were much shorter and far more fun.After her three daughters were born, she was re-introduced to the amazing world of children’s books which, as well as being short and even more fun to write, came with the wonderful bonus of allowing her to stop pretending to be grown up and stay a child at heart.

Her three daughters have now grown up and one of them - Katie Dale - is a children's author, too.

Elizabeth lives in rural West Sussex, where she sits with her laptop keeping her knees warm and looks out at the garden, letting her imagination run riot, exploring the child within and trying never to grow old.

She has had over 1600 stories (teenage and adult) published all over the world, and has had 28 children's books published/commissioned.